UK: Nurses Found Guilty of Illegally Sedating Stroke Patients for Their “Own Amusement” To Keep Them Quiet
Shocking WhatsApp messages have emerged, revealing the disturbing actions of NHS nurse Catherine Hudson, 54, and care assistant Charlotte Wilmot, 48, at Blackpool Victoria Hospital. The messages expose their threatening remarks and boasting about drugging patients for their own amusement and convenience, shedding light on a deeply concerning ‘culture of abuse.’
Hudson and Wilmot were found guilty of drugging patients they deemed ‘troublemakers’ to maintain an ‘easy life.’ Their targets were chosen based on personal dislikes or grievances with the patients or their relatives. The messages highlight the callousness and lack of care for patient well-being, indicating a profound breach of trust and professional ethics.
The appalling exchanges, discovered during an investigation into alleged misconduct, disclosed Hudson’s intent to ‘kill bed 5’ and sedate patients ‘within an inch of their lives.’ They revealed a horrifying pattern of abuse and negligence, illustrating a grave disregard for patients’ safety and dignity.
The court has convicted Hudson of drugging multiple patients and conspiring with Wilmot to administer sedatives to another. The evidence suggests that these actions were carried out for personal gratification and ease of handling patients, displaying a shocking abuse of power.
Relatives of the affected patients expressed their outrage, emphasising that such ill-treatment is entirely unacceptable in a healthcare setting. The Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust issued an apology to the impacted patients, families, and colleagues, acknowledging the gravity of the situation and committing to improved protocols and a more respectful culture within the hospital.
The case has sparked concerns about the safety and well-being of patients in healthcare facilities and emphasises the importance of vigilance and accountability in upholding ethical standards in patient care.
The son of one of the patients Hudson abused, Aileen Scott, called her behaviour ‘unacceptable’.
‘My mum had a hemorrhagic stroke and was paralysed; she was no nuisance to nurses in that hospital,’ said Brian Scott. She couldn’t do anything, and she relied on them for her care and support. So to hear how she’s been treated by Cathy Hudson and others is unacceptable, and I’m delighted to see that she’s gone to prison today on remand. This sends a clear message that I hope will tell everybody that what they’ve done in ill-treatment is not acceptable.’
The jury heard that Wilmot had already pleaded guilty to numerous conspiracies to steal antibiotics from Hudson. She was terminated from her employment in 2020 as she was not qualified to administer medications.
When barrister Imran Shafi KC asked about Hudson, Karen Tonge, Specialist Prosecutor for CPS North West’s Complex Casework Unit, replied, “Cathy is really good at her job. She was always a really conscientious nurse, really good with her patients, nothing untoward whatsoever. She has a big personality. She exaggerates things a lot, mainly for the effect; that’s how she was. She would say things that would shock people.’
It took nearly 14 hours of deliberation for Preston’s Honorary Recorder, Robert Altham, to reach the verdicts, which remanded Hudson into custody.
